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Sunset gathering.

IT IS EASY to dismiss the magical world as just a fairy tale belonging to childhood or old tales, to maintain that what we need at this moment more than ever is hard science, that carbon reduction and loss of biodiversity are our most pressing concerns. And yes, there is important work to be done reducing our industrial imprint, restoring wetlands and wild places. But if we do not remove the rational blinkers from our consciousness, how can we respond to the deeper need of the moment and recognize that we are part of a fully animate world? If we are to become partners with the Earth, living our shared journey, we have to once again speak the same language, listen with our senses attuned not just to the physical world but also to its inner dimension. We cannot afford to continue to dismiss so much of our heritage—the thousands of years we were awake to an environment both seen and unseen.

~ Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Emergence Magazine, excerpted from Where the Horses Sing

Joanna Macy writes that until we can grieve for our planet we cannot love it—grieving is a sign of spiritual health. But it is not enough to weep for our lost landscapes; we have to put our hands in the earth to make ourselves whole again. Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair.

~ Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

Falling Leaves Moon.

Well, here we are.  At the beginning of Walktober.  I apologize for not getting this post up on Monday, as intended.  But here I am and here we are so this will be the official Walktober post where you leave your link/pingbacks.  Have fun, whatever you’re doing for the event, and I look forward to seeing your photos or reading all about your walk, run, drive, swim, whatever you are able to do.  (Note:  If you have already left your link/pingback on the previous post, no worries.  I’ll find it.)

Walktober reminder:  This year the dates will be October 8 through October 24.  That should give us all plenty of time to get our walks in.  The plan, at the moment, is to do the wrap-up of the walks on or near October 31.  If you need more time, let me know.  The rules are quite loose.  You can walk, run, drive, swim, bike, do whatever you need to do.  You don’t have to go anywhere.  A tour of your yard works just fine.  The idea is to get outside but if you need to be indoors, that’s fine, too.

It’s a good year for mushrooms.

The hike I hoped to do is not going to happen this year.  Rain and illness cancelled it.  Hopefully I’ll get there next year.  In the meantime, I will start sharing some walks from around here when I return from a visit with good friends.  And who knows?  Maybe we’ll go for a walk there, something I hadn’t planned, that I will want to share as my Walktober post.

Still blooming.

I will keep this short to make it easier to get to the walks.  Thank you so much for stopping by today, and a big thank you to those of you who are joining this year’s Walktober.

Please be safe, be well, and take a little time to just Be.

There have been fewer Monarchs this year.

A few of the 10,000 reasons to be happy:  3,001)  Monarch butterflies in the garden.  3,002)  A beautiful sunrise this morning just before the rains came.  3,003)  M, always.  3,004)  Recovering from what felt like the everlasting cold.  3,005)  Friends and family, always.

Morning light, hints of fall color.